Former Sundowns defender Siyabonga Zulu has passed away at the age of 31 Former Sundowns defender Siyabonga Zulu with then head coach Pitso Mosimane and ex-chairman Patrice Motsepe. Photo: Football SA/Facebook
Image: Football SA/Facebook
ABC Motsepe League side Phezulu FC have yet to make an official statement, but multiple reports indicate that former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Siyabonga Zulu and Nhlanha Masina were killed in a car accident while traveling from Driekoppies to Secunda in Mpumalanga.
Details of the crash have not been made known as yet, but according to those reports, a third player — former Ajax Cape Town and Swallows FC’ winger Thabo Mosadi — is in a critical condition and is fighting for his life. The accident happened after Phezulu FC had played FC Sivutsa in a league clash.
Left back Zulu played for Sundowns from January 2018, but was fired by the club a year later. Before that, he came through the youth ranks at Orlando Pirates. He was 31 at the time of his untimely passing.
His time at Sundowns was overshadowed by disciplinary issues, which frequently affected his career. In early 2019, his off-field troubles gained public attention when he appeared on the TV show No Excuse, Pay Papgeld over allegations of failing to pay child maintenance.
Apart from Sundowns, Zulu also featured for Sivutsa Stars, Chippa United, Platinum Stars and Black Leopards.
On the international stage, his only Bafana Bafana cap came in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mauritania in 2015, which South Africa lost 3-1. In what was a low point for the national team, they failed to qualify for the 2017 tournament.
IOL Sport